Compare towns
Waltham vs Dorset vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Ferrisburgh has the most renters (14.7% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Waltham | Dorset | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
2,092 |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kLowest 20% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$422,700±$35k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 13% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,120 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.